Whiffletree-hook



- (No Model.)

J". R. DAVIS.

WHIFPLETREE HOOK.

No. 322,527. Patented July 21, 1885.

.M R. w

' WITNESSES:

7 L. W 42; 4m;%.

- ATTORNEY JOHN R. DAVIS, OF BRISTOL, WISCONSIN) -WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,527, dated July 21,1885.

Application filed May 27, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. DAVIS, 21 citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Dane and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in \Vhiffietree Safety-Hooks, of which the following is a specification.

The advantages secured by the use of my device are facilities for rapidly hitching to or detaching the horse or other animal from the vehicle or implement, as well as the possession of means for so securing the harnesstrace to the whiffletree, that the same when in use will not be liable to be easily unhooked or detached, nor the fastener be liable to get out of order or lost, the same being permanently attached to the whiffietree or other equivalent article. A further advantage which I seek to gain in the use of this device is to provide by the outward curvature of my trace-hook a guard or protection for the end of the whiffletree. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top view of my invention and a portion of the whiftletree towhich it is attached. Fig. 2 is a cross-section end view through the line X X of Fig. 1. In this view a portion ofthe ring R is removed in order to show the lug Z. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The ferrule F, the shoulder or flange S, and the lug l constitute one solid piece of metal. The ring Rand the hook h are also welded or cast together, forming one continuous and separate part of the device. The lug lis situated at a point diametrically opposite the point p of the trace-hook R h when held by tension in the line of draft. This lugis shaped to correspond with the space a where the ring R- joins the shank of the hook h, so as to allow of the convenient passage of this portion of the ring over the lug. The ring R is made to fit as closely as consistent with a free radial and lateral movement. The slot or depression d in the shoulder or flange S is of about the same depth as the shoulder, and of sufficient width to allow of quickness and convenience in passing through it the point p of the hook h. The relative position of the slot (1 should be such that when the hook is locked in position, as shown in Fig. 1, it cannot under any ordinary circumstances be jarred or crowded out of adjustment, while at the same time it should not be placed so far back on the shoulder as to make it inconvenient to attach the harness-trace T. Approximately, the slot should be about in the relative position shown in the drawings. The ferrule Fis adapted to be driven on and secured upon the end of the whiflletree in the manner that such appliances are usually secured.

Having described the parts of my invention, I will now proceed to explain how it operates. The part B h is first attached to the ferrule F. This is done by applying the ring R h to the inner end of the'ferrule F, so that the space a is directly in line with the lug Z. In this position the point p of the hook it will just clear the inner end of the lug. The 7 ring is then pushed over the. lug, which is made just small enough to allow an easy clearance. This being done, the hook is revolved and the part B h or the ring-hook is locked in position, such as is indicated in Fig. 1. The ring R is permanently confined with free play between the lug Z and the shoulder S. This having been done, the ferrule is fitted to the end of the whiffletree and permanently secured. The spur-point p of the hook h is of about the same depth as the shoulder S, butneed notbe accurately constructed solong as the play of the ring R about the ferrule is not so free as to allow of the point 10 being canted over the shoulder S.

Similar parts for the other end of the whiffietree must be made with due regard to rights and lefts.

To attach the harnesstrace, the hook is turned upward until the spur-point p is opposite the depression. The ring R is then pushed up against the shoulder S, while the spurpoint passing through the slot d is free. The trace is then hooked on. The hook is pushed back until the spur-point clears the shoulder, when the hook is at once drawn and locked in position by the weight and tension of the harnesstrace, as shown at Fig. 1. In this position it is impossible for the trace to become unhooked. The curvature of the hook at h is purposely extended outside and beyond shoulder S, in combination with the trace=hook R h, and applied'to the whiffletree W or its IO equivalent, substantially as described, and for the uses and purposes mentioned.

JOHN R. DAVIS.

Witnesses:

CALVIN A. LEWIs, E. G. JoHNsoN. 

